The Challenge

Every resident deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood, whether they're walking downtown, attending a community event, or simply enjoying their front porch. While Jackson has made significant progress reducing violent crime over the past decade, we cannot become complacent. Residents continue to raise concerns about reckless driving, gun violence, illegal dumping, neighborhood blight, and the need for stronger relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

Public safety is about more than responding after a crime has occurred - it means preventing crime, supporting victims, addressing the root causes of violence, and building trust between residents and first responders.

Building on My Record

As mayor, public safety was my top priority. We increased funding for police and fire services, reopened Fire Station No. 2 to improve emergency response on the south side, invested in new equipment and technology, and strengthened partnerships with neighborhood organizations.

Those efforts produced real results. Violent crime declined by more than 27 percent, overall crime reached its lowest levels in decades, and Jackson experienced the highest number of arrests in nearly twenty years. We also launched and expanded group violence intervention initiatives that focused on preventing violence before it happened.

Those accomplishments showed that smart investments, strong partnerships, and accountable leadership make our city safer.

My Plan

As mayor, I will continue building a modern public safety system that combines effective policing with prevention and community engagement.

My administration will:

• Recruit and retain additional police officers with a goal of reaching approximately 60 sworn officers.

• Expand neighborhood policing so officers spend more time building relationships in the communities they serve.

• Create a dedicated traffic safety unit to address speeding, reckless driving and dangerous intersections.

• Strengthen partnerships with state and federal law enforcement to target repeat violent offenders.

• Expand community/group violence intervention programs that reduce shootings by connecting high-risk individuals with support services and accountability.

• Invest in modern technology, including AI-assisted report writing, real-time camera integration, Drone as First Responder programs, and improved crime analysis tools that allow officers to spend more time in neighborhoods instead of behind a desk.

• Develop a voluntary community camera partnership modeled after successful programs like Project Green Light, allowing businesses and residents to voluntarily connect existing security cameras to assist law enforcement with real-time crime response and investigations while protecting privacy and maintaining local oversight.

• Strengthen enforcement of the City's nuisance abatement ordinance to address chronic neighborhood issues such as excessive noise, blight, drugs and illegal activity, and repeated disturbances. My administration will also work proactively with landlords by providing advance notice when rental properties generate repeated police calls or ordinance violations so responsible property owners can address problem tenants before neighborhoods deteriorate.

• Work with Jackson Public Schools, families, law enforcement, and community organizations to reduce truancy and keep young people engaged in school. I will also explore youth curfew policies and other evidence-based strategies that encourage positive youth activities while reducing late-night crime and victimization involving juveniles.

• Continue strengthening partnerships with Jackson Public Schools, neighborhood associations, faith organizations, and community groups to prevent crime before it starts.

The Goal

Every resident should feel safe regardless of their ZIP code. My goal is to continue reducing crime while building stronger trust between public safety professionals and the community they serve.

The Challenge

Jackson is experiencing renewed investment, but many residents continue to struggle to find housing they can afford. Families searching for their first home, seniors looking to age in place, young professionals entering the workforce, and individuals experiencing homelessness all face different housing challenges.

There is no single solution. Jackson needs more affordable apartments, more pathways to homeownership, stronger neighborhood revitalization efforts, and a comprehensive strategy to prevent and reduce homelessness.

Building on My Record

Housing was one of the defining priorities of my administration. We created the Affordable Housing Development Board to coordinate housing policy and investment throughout the city. We helped facilitate hundreds of new housing units through partnerships with nonprofit and private developers, including projects such as the Blackstone, Albert Kahn Apartments, and Senior Lofts on Francis Street.

We also committed millions of dollars through the American Rescue Plan to support new housing construction and home rehabilitation, funding the 100 Homes Program to assist homeowners with critical repairs, and began conversations around the redevelopment of Reed Manor through a RAD conversion that would replace an outdated public housing facility with a safer, more modern community.

These investments demonstrated that local government can play a meaningful role in expanding housing opportunities while strengthening neighborhoods.

My Plan

As mayor, I will continue pursuing housing solutions across the entire housing continuum.

My administration will:

• Expand partnerships that produce quality affordable housing throughout Jackson.

• Continue investing in homeownership programs and neighborhood rehabilitation efforts.

• Advance the redevelopment of Reed Manor into a modern mixed-income community that improves resident safety and quality of life while incorporating supportive services and neighborhood amenities.

• Seek to continue programs like the 100 Homes initiative by partnering with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Community Action Agency.

• Encourage redevelopment of vacant and underutilized properties throughout the city.

Homelessness also demands a comprehensive response that balances compassion with accountability.

Rather than relying on one ordinance or one enforcement strategy, I have developed a comprehensive homelessness plan focused on prevention, coordinated services, transitional housing, emergency shelter capacity, secure storage for personal belongings, improved access to restrooms, showers and hygiene facilities, mental health and addiction services, and clear expectations for maintaining safe and welcoming public spaces.

The goal is not simply relocating homelessness - it is helping people permanently exit homelessness while maintaining safe neighborhoods for everyone.

The Goal

Every Jackson resident deserves a safe, stable place to live. My goal is to make housing more attainable while ensuring homelessness is addressed with thoughtful, coordinated, long-term solutions.

The Challenge

Families are feeling the pressure of rising costs. Housing, groceries, insurance, utilities, and property taxes have all become more expensive, leaving many residents wondering whether city government is doing everything it can to make life more affordable.

While local government cannot solve inflation, it can make responsible financial decisions that lower costs, improve services, and protect taxpayers.

Building on My Record

Throughout my time as mayor, we focused on strengthening the city's finances while reducing unnecessary burdens on residents.

We improved Jackson's financial position, strengthened reserve funds, lowered borrowing costs, addressed long-term pension liabilities, and supported reducing city taxes when it was fiscally responsible to do so. Thanks to years of disciplined financial management, the city's Act 345 public safety pension millage has begun declining after years of increases, creating new opportunities to reinvest those savings into community priorities.

We also aggressively pursued state and federal grants to reduce the burden on local taxpayers whenever possible.

My Plan

My administration will continue managing city finances responsibly while looking for opportunities to reduce costs for residents.

My administration will:

• Continue reducing long-term pension obligations through responsible financial planning.

• Dedicate future savings from declining Act 345 costs toward rebuilding neighborhood streets.

• Aggressively pursue grants that allow outside dollars - not local taxpayers - to fund infrastructure improvements.

• Modernize city operations through technology and process improvements that improve customer service while reducing operating costs.

• Review city fees and regulations to identify opportunities to eliminate unnecessary expenses for residents and businesses.

• Continue investing in water, sewer, and energy infrastructure that lowers long-term operating costs and protects taxpayers from expensive emergency repairs.

The Goal

City government should be a good steward of taxpayer dollars. My goal is to deliver better services, maintain fiscal responsibility, and make Jackson one of the best values in Michigan for families and businesses.

The Challenge

Jackson has tremendous potential. We have a historic downtown, a skilled workforce, outstanding educational institutions, and a strong manufacturing tradition. But attracting investment isn't enough - we must ensure that growth benefits residents, creates quality jobs, and strengthens neighborhoods.

Economic development should never come at the expense of our environment, infrastructure, or quality of life.

Building on My Record

As mayor, we helped facilitate more than $100 million in public and private investment throughout Jackson. We supported the redevelopment of downtown buildings into new housing, revitalized key commercial corridors, strengthened partnerships with local employers, and worked alongside state and federal leaders to secure resources that positioned Jackson for continued growth.

These efforts attracted new residents, supported small businesses, and demonstrated that Jackson is a community where investment can succeed.

My Plan

As mayor, I will pursue thoughtful economic development that creates opportunity while protecting the interests of our community.

My administration will:

• Continue revitalizing downtown while supporting the small businesses that make it successful.

• Prioritize redevelopment along key commercial corridors, including Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and East Michigan Avenue.

• Strengthen workforce development partnerships with Jackson Public Schools, Jackson College, unions, employers, and community organizations to connect residents with family-sustaining careers.

• Support entrepreneurs and small businesses by making city government easier to navigate and reducing unnecessary barriers to investment.

• Develop clear local policies for emerging industries, including artificial intelligence and data centers, before approving major projects, ensuring residents' privacy, workers' rights, infrastructure capacity, environmental impacts, and neighborhood quality of life are fully considered.

• Continue pursuing state and federal investment that brings new jobs while supporting existing employers already investing in Jackson.

The Goal

Economic development should improve the lives of the people who already call Jackson home. My goal is to grow our economy in a way that creates opportunity, strengthens neighborhoods, protects our environment, and ensures Jackson remains a great place to live, work, raise a family, and start a business.